K. Scott Baker

K.

Scott

Baker

MD, MS

Dr. Baker is the director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Survivorship Program, and also is director of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant program. He works with pediatric bone marrow transplantation patients at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and at Seattle Childrenâ€™s Hospital, and also leads the pediatric survivorship program at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Philosophy

My goal is to deliver patient-family centered care for children and young adults who are faced with the need to undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation for treatment of what are frequently life-threatening illnesses. I strive to provide information and guidance that will allow the best treatment decisions possible based upon what we know about current, state-of-the-art therapies. I also greatly value what the patient and family have to teach us as physicians based on their experiences, and recognize the importance of the role of the patient and their family as part of the overall health-care team.

Dr. Scott Baker is a pediatric oncologist and a Member in the Clinical Research Division of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and a professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington. He is the director of the Center’s Survivorship Program and the director of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. Dr. Baker works in pediatric blood and marrow transplantation at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and leads the pediatric Survivorship Program at Seattle Children's.

At the Hutchinson Center, Baker's primary focus is on late effects of cancer therapy, especially in patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. "The Hutchinson Center and SCCA have been leaders in this field, and I hope to maintain that momentum and keep the field moving forward with innovative survivorship research as well as by providing state-of-the-art clinical care and psychosocial support for cancer survivors in this region," he said.

As a member of the pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant program Dr. Baker's primary interests are in the area of hematopoietic cell transplant for non-malignant disorders such as bone marrow failure syndromes, primary immunodeficiencies, and the histocytic disorders including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. He also has interest in the use of alternative donor sources such as umbilical cord blood for use in transplantation for both malignant and non-malignant diseases.

Baker's research has focused on short- and long-term effects of blood and marrow transplantation. He has investigated the incidence, risk factors and characteristics of cardiopulmonary, metabolic, renal, endocrine and reproductive late effects and quality-of-life outcomes in long-term cancer survivors.

"As cures for adults and children with cancer become more and more successful there is an ever-increasing population of cancer survivors," Baker said. "These survivors have been largely neglected in the past, but their unique needs are now beginning to come to the forefront in health care."

At the Center, Baker's primary focus will be on late effects of cancer therapy, especially in patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. "The Hutchinson Center and SCCA have been leaders in this field, and I hope to maintain that momentum and keep the field moving forward with innovative survivorship research as well as by providing state-of-the-art clinical care and psychosocial support for cancer survivors in this region," he said.

Baker receives funding through grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute. He is a member of the steering committee for Cancer Control and Late Effects of the Children’s Oncology Group. In addition, he serves on subcommittees for the National Marrow Donor Program, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, the Histiocyte Society and the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.